He laid her gently on the bed. He discarded his dressing gown and began to work on the fastenings of his trousers. “Would you rather I douse the lamps?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No. I want to see you.”

And she was grateful that he allowed her request. She knew the human form was beautiful, but she thought he was magnificent as he shoved down his trousers and joined her on the bed. She touched his shoulders, toyed with the light sprinkling of hair on his chest. “I’ve so often dreamed of this.”

“I suspect I shall lie on my deathbed still wondering why you chose me,” he said.

“And I shall always wonder why you came back.”

He shook his head, a smile playing over his lips. “Because for once in my life, I listened to my heart.”

Her heart soared, swelled to such an extent that she was surprised her chest could contain it.

Then his hands and mouth were exploring every inch of her, with tenderness and deliberation. Pleasure ebbed and flowed through her. Each caress brought her closer to the edge of something she couldn’t quite fathom. Each stroke urged her to touch him as well.

She loved the texture of his body. Firm, strong muscles undulating beneath her fingers.

Then he rose above her and gazed down on her. His mouth covered hers. His body plunged into hers. His cries mingled with hers.

He rocked against her and the pressure built. Sensations she could have never imagined travelled through her. He was hers now, just as she’d always dreamed.

She was his, just as she’d always wanted.

The pleasure spiralled through her until it burst forth into a conflagration that had her calling out his name. She was aware of her name escaping through his clenched jaw as he thrust into her one last time, his body taut, his muscles quivering.

He lowered himself to her, buried his face in the curve of her shoulder. He pressed his lips to her dew-covered neck. “Arianna.”

Her name was a whispered benediction.

And she knew that love wouldn’t be far behind.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES

Leah Ball

Mammoth debut author and second-prize winner in the R.W.A. Royal Ascot’s Hot & Wild Regency category, her first novel, Secret Possessions, is currently on submission.


Sara Bennett

Bestselling author of historical romance for Avon, she writes passionate Victorian- and Regency-set romances. She has just finished the second book in her latest series, The Husband Hunters Club, and also writes paranormals as Sara Mackenzie.

www.sara-bennett.com


Elizabeth Boyle

New York Times bestselling author of fifteen Regency-set historical romances, including the popular Bachelor Chronicles series, she is also the winner of the R.W.A.’s RITA award, a voracious knitter and an occasional seamstress.

www.elizabethboyle.com


Anna Campbell

Multi-award-winning author writing passionate, emotional Regency-set historical romance for Avon, she lives in Australia and loves to travel, especially to the United Kingdom.

www.annacampbell.info


Robyn DeHart

Three-time Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice award nominee, her Legend Hunters series is a favourite among reviewers and fans alike.

www.robyndehart.com


Amanda Grange

Bestselling author of Mr Darcy’s Diary, she has written seventeen Regency-set novels including her popular series of Jane Austen retellings.

www.amandagrange.com


Lorraine Heath

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has penned more than twenty-five historical romances, including her popular Scoundrels of St James series. She is also a recipient of R.W.A.’s prestigious RITA award, a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and several other literary accolades.

www.lorraineheath.com


Candice Hern

Award-winning author of Regency-set historical romances, her Regency World website features an illustrated glossary, a detailed timeline of Regency events and an illustrated digest of that era’s notable people and places.

www.candicehern.com


Carolyn Jewel

Writer of historical and paranormal romance, who often wishes she had superpowers.

www.carolynjewel.com


Christie Kelley

Born and raised in upstate New York, she decided to write her first book after seventeen years of working in software development. She currently writes Regency-set historicals for Kensington Zebra.

www.christiekelley.com


Vanessa Kelly

Writer of sensual, Regency-set historical romances for Kensington Zebra.

www.vanessakellyauthor.com


Shirley Kennedy

Author of numerous Regency romances for both Ballantine and Signet, she’s kind to animals and has never been convicted of a felony.

www.shirleykennedy.com


Anthea Lawson

The pseudonym of a husband—wife team writing spicy historical romance, their debut novel, Passionate, was nominated for a Best First Book RITA in 2009. Their most recent release, All He Desires, “deftly combines danger, desire, and a deliciously different setting into a sexy version of Victoria Holt’s classic gothic romances”. (Booklist Reviews) www.anthealawson.com


Caroline Linden

Critically acclaimed author of sexy, suspenseful historical romance.

www.carolinelinden.com


Margo Maguire

Author of seventeen historical romances — including The Rogue Prince, her latest Regency-set romance from Avon Books — her adventurous and sexy novels have been translated into twenty languages.

www.margomaguire.com


Delilah Marvelle

Two-time Golden Heart finalist, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice nominee and a double finalist in the Booksellers’ Best Award, she loves writing historical romances with scandalous twists.

www.delilahmarvelle.com


Barbara Metzger

Author of over three dozen Regency-set romances and historicals, plus a dozen short stories, she has won many awards, including R.W.A.’s RITA, two career achievement awards from Romantic Times magazine, a Madcap award for humour in historicals and, most recently, a R.T. award for Most Innovative Historical Romance. This year, her new book, The Bargain Bride, has won rave reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist and Library Journal, as well as another R.T. nomination for Best Love and Laughter Romance in the historical category. She lives on Long Island with her little dog Valentino.

www.barbarametzger.com


Sharon Page

USA Today bestselling author of sensual Regency-set and historical erotic romances, she has been called “a new queen of erotic romance” by Romantic Times magazine. She is a two-time consecutive winner of the National Readers’ Choice award, and a winner of the Romantic

Times Reviewers’ Choice award.

www.sharonpage.com


Deborah Raleigh

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty-three Regency-set novels and short stories, her books have been nominated by the Romantic Times in the Best First Regency and in the Career Achievement in Regency Romance categories. She also writes the paranormal Guardian of Eternity series under the pseudonym Alexandra Ivy.

www.deborah-raleigh.com


Patricia Rice

New York Times bestselling author who has been nominated for the R.W.A.’s RITA awards for Regency romance, as well as for her paranormal historicals and contemporaries.

www.patriciarice.com


Julia Templeton

Writer of spicy historical, time travel, vampire and contemporary romances, featuring sexy alpha heroes and strong heroines. Aside from writing and reading, she enjoys research, haunting bookstores and libraries, travelling, riding motorcycles and spending time with family and friends. Married to her high-school sweetheart, she has two grown children and lives in Washington State.

www.juliatempleton.com


Emma Wildes

Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice nominee, winner of a Passionate Plume award and an Eppie for best erotic historical, she grew up loving books, so writing just came naturally!

www.emmawildes.com


Michèle Ann Young

Award-winning romance author of five Regency-set historicals and a variety of short stories, she is an army brat and grew up all over Britain, developing a special love for its regional history.

www.micheleannyoung.com